Society News

Kanpur, June 13 (ANI): Hindu devotees in Kanpur city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday made an attempt to create a record by offering a 51,000 meter-long cloth to holy river Ganges to mark Hindu festival, 'Ganga Dussehra', which commemorates birth of the river on earth. The 51,000 meter-long cloth extends from Bramhavrat Ghat area at one end of Kanpur and touches Jajmau area at the city's other end and was organised by volunteers in collaboration with Kanpur's main shrine of Lord Shiv. Devout Hindus in Kanpur took a holy dip in the river Ganges, prayed for their ancestors and sought the blessings of the Hindu goddess Ganga to get rid of their sins. Priests performed traditional Hindu rituals and chanted hymns on the banks of the river. Women and girls offered prayers for the well being of their families. The first 10 days of the month of June are said to honour the presence of river Ganges in India. According to a myth, the Ganges was gifted to mankind in answer to the penance undertaken by King Bhagirath of the legendary Sagara dynasty. Bhagirath prayed for the Ganges to descend onto the earth to wash the ashes of his dead brothers to give them salvation. However, another event organiser, said the attempt is to make the new federal government of Prime MinisterJun 13, 2014

Rajkot, June 13 (ANI): In an attempt to preserve and promote traditional mud houses which existed in the olden days of Indian civilization, an organic farmer in western Gujarat state built a 'mud house' residency using coconut wood and bamboo. Not a professional builder, but a true Gandhian at heart Shital Patel (44), constructed the state's first housing colony made purely of mud after his traditional mud house became a local tourist attraction. Planning to create an 'eco-friendly' colony on the outskirts of western Rajkot city, Patel added that the concept of mud houses has gained in popularity as these homes are well-insulated and remain cool in summers and warm in winters. The cost of making the mud homes ranges between Rs 5 lakhs to 6 lakhs approximately and it takes almost three to four months to make a mud house, which can withstand an earthquake, too. The concept has attracted the attention of many businessmen in the city who have expressed a keenness to invest in more such projects. They feel that such homes provide mental peace.Shital Patel's family has been living in a mud house since 1998 when he built a traditional mud house on his agricultural land. Each mud house also has an organic garden with drip irrigation for fruit trees, a library and a meditation hall. ThereJun 13, 2014

Dharamsala, June 13 (ANI): Renowned Tibetan musician, Jhola Tehchung, launched an upcoming musical event in India's hill town of Dharamsala on June 10 to promotes Himalayan artistes and music from across various genres, including folk to fusion to pop. The four-day musical concert 'Tashi Delek Concert'is organised by a newly formed Tibetan organisation, 'Himalayan International Traditional Arts' (HITA) from Japan and it will be held from 29th of June to 2nd of July in India's northern Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir province, inviting all prominent young musicians from the entire Himalayan region. Spokesperson of HITA, Tsering Dicky, said that the agency is formed by a Tibetan musician based in Japan with an aim to promote Tibetan and Himalayan artists. Music enthusiasts from all across the world are expected to attend the event.Jun 13, 2014

Mumbai, June 13 (ANI): Strong tidal waves have led to water-logging in low lying areas of Mumbai. At some places, shanties were washed away and cars stood half-submerged in water. Several tiles along Marine Drive were damaged. Roads near Gateway of India and some areas in Mahim, Worli sea face and some parts of Dadar were flooded when hide tide measuring 4.56 meters hit the shores at 11:30 am today.Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): A delegation of BJP leaders met Home Minister, Rajnath Singh on Friday (June 13) to present their report after visiting West Bengal in order to assess the spate of post-election violence and attacks on its members in the province. Several BJP supporters were injured in a clash with TMC workers, in the Sandeshkhali area of the the state on May 28. Due to a spur of violent clashes and a blast near the north 24 Parganas district polling booth, voter turnout in the area dropped. The five-member delegation of lawmakers included Babul Supriyo, in-charge of the party affairs in the province, Siddharth Nath Singh, S.S. Ahluwalia besides Naqvi and Lekhi.Jun 13, 2014

Mumbai, June 13 (ANI): Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane has said that the Congress-NCP government would announce the final decision on 'Maratha Samaj' reservation on the 21st of June. Rane claimed that they would officially announce 20 percent reservation for Marathis in jobs this month. The move by the state government is being seen as a way to appease the people in the region ahead of the Assembly Elections that would be held later this year.Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Chief Minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal, on Friday urged the home minister, Rajnath Singh, to set up a committee under the Supreme Court to probe conspiracy and collusion of officers in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Badal also urged home minister to completely seal the India-Pakistan border in Punjab to thwart the smuggling of narcotics.Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday brought tree plantation along the roads under employment guarantee scheme to combat environment challenges and provide jobs to unemployed youths. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MGNREGA) mandates the government to provide at least 100 days of job to rural youths. Gadkari said three million youths would get jobs if trees were planted along roads across the country. Gadkari also claimed that water conservation by building check dams on water bodies would boost agricultural growth, alleviate poverty and provide employment.Jun 13, 2014

Chennai, June 13 (ANI): People's movement against nuclear energy, Kudankulam anti-nuke federation, slammed the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) for leveling foreign funding allegations in its report submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The IB, in its report on June 03, has described the Greenpeace, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), as 'a threat to national economic security' and has claimed that there could be negative implications of the NGOs' role on GDP growth ranging from 2-3 per cent per annum. The report said that foreign funded NGOs negatively impact economic development in the country, while citing activities ranging from protests against nuclear and coal plants and funding of sympathetic research. Speaking in Chennai, Convener of Kudankulam anti-nuke federation, G. Anton Gomez, on Friday questioned the credibility of the report stating that the Kudankulam protest has been a people’s movement ever since its inception.Jun 13, 2014

Tensions mount in eastern Ukraine as Pro-Russian rebels remain on the outskirts of Slavyansk amid shelling and a minibus belonging to Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin is blown up killing two of his entourage. Duration: 01:42Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Bereaved relatives still await justice as on Friday they observed the 17th anniversary of Delhi's Uphaar Cinema hall tragedy in which 59 people lost their lives after a fire engulfed the theatre. Atleast 59 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive inferno that engulfed Uphaar cinema in south Delhi on June 13, 1997 during the screening of the film, 'Border.' Prayers to mark the anniversary of the disaster were organized in the capital today. Relatives performed special rituals in memory of the dead. President of the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) and mother of two of the victims, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, blamed the Indian judicial system for the delay in justice.Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bhutan will be a goodwill visit. Singh further said that Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and senior officials will accompany the PM. Modi will meet the King, PM of Bhutan and address Parliament during the visit.Jun 13, 2014

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan will be a goodwill visit. Singh further said that Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and senior officials will accompany the PM. Modi will meet the King, PM of Bhutan and address Parliament during the visit.Jun 13, 2014

Bhilai, June 13 (ANI): Workers union on Friday protested against gas leak at Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh, which left six people dead and many others unwell. Methane gas leaked after a pipeline bursted at the Bhilai Steel Plant. Workers of Democratic Steel Workers Union came out in droves and vented out their anger against the authorities. One of the protesting workers, Surendra, said the incident could have been avoided if the authorities had put safety measures in place. Gas leakage from blast furnace occurred due to breakdown in a water pump, affecting people working nearby in the plant premises.Jun 13, 2014